Lip Ring Aftercare & Irritations - advice

Nowadays, lip piercing is becoming very popular.
Girls use it for a body decoration, a fashion detail etc. This type
of
piercing usually takes six to eight weeks to heal properly. Not
taking care of the piercing properly prolongs the healing period.
Taking care of a lip ring after the healing period is less
difficult, but you still must take appropriate precautions to ensure
it stays free of infections.

What to do during the healing time:

During this time you should be careful of your health, this means
you should modify your diet. Try to eat soft, preferably cool, foods
such as yogurt, pudding and ice cream. Avoid solid foods, as it may
become trapped in the piercing. If you must eat solid foods, chew
away from the piercing area.

Try to avoid smoking and especially alcohol. The smoke from
cigarettes irritates the lip ring. Alcohol also dries out the
piercing, making it prone to infection.

Avoid coming into contact with water. This includes long showers and
swimming. Chlorine water will dry out and irritate the lip piercing,
making it harder to heal. The harshness of the shower water also
aggravates symptoms.

Keep it clean for faster healing. Dip a toothbrush in saline
solution. Apply the toothbrush to the lip ring to completely
sanitize it. Brush your lip ring two or three times a day, but don't
overdo it. Too much saline solution dries out the lip piercing.

Use an antibacterial wash or lozenge to keep the area safe from
infection. Listerine is a powerful antibacterial wash that
eliminates most germs in the mouth. Throat lozenges, which often
have antibacterial properties, are less harsh substitutes if you
cannot handle antibacterial washes.

Keep the area dry. Taking a dry, clean tissue, gently pat the area
until dry. Immediately dry the area if it comes in contact with
food, liquids, or any substances that touch the mouth. Always use a
fresh, disposable tissue each time.

Some Aftercare Tips:

Washing your hands with antibacterial soap is very important. This
will clean and disinfect your lip piercing. Since germs and bacteria
can be transferred from your hands, resulting in infection in your
piercing wound, it's vital your hands are clean every time you touch
your piercing or the area surrounding it.

Wet a cotton swab with water and apply a small drop of antibacterial
soap. Gently wash the lip ring jewelry with the soap solution to
remove any crusty stuff or dried blood. Do not try to remove
crusting or scabs from your lip as this may cause bleeding. Use
another wet cotton swab to rinse the lip ring. Twice a day,
preferably in the morning and before bed, swish your mouth with an
antibacterial wash after brushing your teeth. Do not use the wash
before brushing your teeth - the toothbrush may cause bacteria from
your teeth.

Saline Solution - A Great Way To Disinfect the Piercing

Clean your piercing every other day with a saline solution. Dip a
tissue into a saline mixture and pat around the piercing, making
sure to wipe away any crusts or additional liquids. Dry with a soft
tissue afterward.

Every time after eating would be nice to

Rinse your mouth with antibacterial, alcohol-free mouthwash for 30
to 60 seconds after eating to flush food particles out of the
piercing wound and keep it clean.